chirhart



Jan. 21, 1964 v CHIRHART 3,118,248

ANIMATED TOY Filed May 8, 1961 INVENTOR. VIRGIL R. CHIRHART ATTORNEY.

United States Patent 3,118,248 ANIMATED TOY Virgil R. Chirhart, 11515 S. Van Ness, Los Angeles 47, Calif. Filed May 8, 1961, Ser. No. 108,515 1 Claim. (Ci. 45110) This invention pertains to a toy having a movable figure representing a running animal as the toy is operated.

The toy of this invention includes two ground-engaging wheels pushed by a stick connecting through a crank arm and linked to the forward portion of an element representing the body of a four-legged animal. The body is pivoted relative to a support carried by the push stick so that upon rotation of the wheels, the crank arm causes the body to oscillate. Front and back legs are pivoted to the body element and connected by pivotal link means to the fixed support so that upon oscillation of the body, the legs are caused to make a running motion. In addition, a tail may be pivoted to the end of the body, being operated by the movement of the rear legs of the animal. A head is pivoted to the forward portion of the body providing maximum realism by flopping loosely as the body is oscillated.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a toy animated to represent the movement of a running animal.

Another object of this invention is to provide a push toy giving realistic representation of the movements of an animal.

A further object of this invention is to provide an animated push toy of simple, yet rugged construction.

These and other objects will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the toy of this invention,

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 22 of FIG. 1 with the animal in one position of motion,

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but with the animal shown in a different position, and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 44 of FIG. 3.

With reference to the drawing, the toy of this invention includes an animal figure 1, such as a dog, supported on a vertical element 2. The support 2 at its lower end is connetced to a cross piece 3 interposed at the lower end portion between the two sections of a bifurcated push stick 4. The latter member extends to a suitable upper end cap 5 and is adapted to be held at an angle relative to the ground, generally as indicated in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The bottom end of the bifurcated member 4 is canied by a duality of wheels 6 and 7. The wheels are secured to the push stick 4 by means of an axle 8 having a crank portion 9 intermediate the two sections of the member 4. The axle S is suitably secured to the wheels 6 and 7 so that it rotates therewith.

The animal figure 1 includes a body section 10 which may be cut from a flat-sided wooden board and painted with apporpriate animal markings. Alternatively the figure may be made of plastic or metal as desired. The lower edge of the body section 10 is provided with a depending centrally disposed tab 11 which extends into a slot 12 in the upper end of support 2 where it is pivotally mounted by transverse pin 13. By virtue of this connection, therefore, the animal figure 1 is made pivotal relative to the support 2 and the push stick 4.

The rotational position of the animal figure relative to the support is governed by a rod 14 that interconnects the crank 9 and a depending tab 15 at the forward lower Patented Jan. 21, lhfi i port-ion of the body section 1d of the animal. By this connection, therefore, as the wheels 6 and 7 are turned by the stick 4, the accompanying rotation of the crank 9 causes rod 14 to oscillate generally in a vertical direction. This in turn causes the body portion iii of the animal figure l to oscillate about its pivot connection 13 to the support 2.

Pivoted to the outside of the forward portion of the body element 10 by means of transverse pin 16 is a duality of members 17 and 18, representing the front legs of the animal. Similarly, at the rear portion of the body a transverse pin 19 mounts elements 20 and 21 to the outer face of the element 10, having the appearance of the rear legs of the animal.

The :legs of the animal are caused to move back and forth during operation of the toy to simulate a running motion by means of a link 22 that is substantially V- shaped in side elevation, the divergent sections 23 and 24 of which are separated by a transverse oifset 25. The offset portion 25 fits through an aperture in support element 2 and is pivotal relative thereto. The upper end of portion 23 of the link 22 pivotally engages one of the front leg members :13 through the provision of a transverse angular portion 26 received within an aperture in the inner side of this leg member. This forms a pivotal connection rearward of but adjacent the pivot pin 16 by which the front legs are connected to the body member 10.

The rear portion 24- of the link 22 connects to the rear legs of the animal in a similar manner. This is through an angular extension 27 received within a transverse opening in leg portion 20 forming a pivotal connection spaced slightly forward of the pivot pin 19.

As a result of this arrangement, when the body of the animal swings back and forth as the wheels rotate, the link 22 causes a reciprocative rotational movement of the front and rear leg members of the unit. This occurs because link 22 is pivotally connected to the support 2 at its offset portion 25 that forms a fixed pivot point for this link unit, which thereby must rotate back and forth as the body portion it) is moved to cause a pivotal movement of the leg sections.

Further realism is achieved by means of a tail member 29 pivotaliy connected by pin 36 to a tab 31 extendin out from the rear edge of the body member It A transverse pin 32 extends between the rear legs 29 and 21 aft of the body portion and is engaged by a link 33. This link at its other end includes an offset portion pivotally connecting to the tail 29. Therefore, as the rear legs 24) and 21 are pivoted relative to the body, the link 33 causes the tail 29 to move up and down. As a result, the animal appears to be wagging its tail as it makes a running motion during the movement of the wheels.

Maximum effectiveness of the animated toy is realized if the head 34- is pivotal relative to the body, but can be given free movement during the oscillation of the body element. Thus a pin 35 connects the head to tab 36 extending from the forward edge of the body, but there is no linkage causing a predetermined pivotal movement of the head. As a result, the head flops as the toy is operated, much in the manner of many dogs as they run.

The construction of this toy, therefore, provides a toy having lifelike running motion as the wheels are pushed along the ground. Not only does the body portion of the dog bob up and down much in the manner of an actual animal, but the front andrear legs are caused to move back and forth in an accurate representation of running motion. Furthermore, the tail wags up and down and the head is free to move in the flopping manner characteristic of running dogs.

The foregoing detailed description is to be clearly understood as given by way of iliustration and example 3; only, the spirit and scope of this invention being limited solely by the appended claim.

I claim:

An animated toy comprising a stick element, one end of which is adapted to be hand held for pushing, a duality of wheels pivotally connected to the bottom end of said stick element for supporting the same, a crank operable by said wheels, a support member projecting upwardly from the bottom portion of said stick element, a simulated animal figure, said animal figure including a body portion, means pivotally connecting the lower portion of said body portion to said support member, a red one end of which is pivotally connected to said body portion forward of said pivotal connection to said support, the other end of said rod being pivotally connected to said crank whereby rotation of said wheels causes oscillation of said body portion, simulated front legs, means pivotally connecting said simulated front legs to the front portion of said body portion, simulated rear legs, means pivotally connecting said simulated rear legs to the rear portion or said body portion, and a single means for oscillating said simulated front legs and said simulated rear legs, said means for oscillating said legs including a rod element substantially V-shaped in side elevation, said rod element being pivotally connected at its apex to said support member beneath said connection of said body portion to said support member, one distal end of said rod element being pivotally connected to said front legs adjacent and spaced from said pivotal mounting of said front legs, the other distal end of said rod element being pivotally connected to said rear legs adjacent and spaced from said pivotal connection of said rear legs, whereby upon oscillation of said body said rod element causes pivotal movement of said front and said rear legs.

References Qited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,392,485 Davis Oct. 4, 1921 1,651,282 Kutz Nov. 29, 1927 1,723,749 Rest Aug. 6, 1929 2,164,313 Duarte July 4, 1939 

